Category Archives: career

Networking For a Job, Building Network Connections Or New Business

Networking is an effective way to support your job search and career goals. To get the most out of your networking, understand your goals and create a plan to achieve them. By making a conscious decision to create and execute your networking plan you will see greater results.

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  1. First understand what results you want to get from your networking activities. Are you networking because you are in job search mode? Are you looking to build your network to expand your career horizons? Is your goal to identify strategic partners? Is your networking objective to find customers? By understanding what you want to get out of your networking activities, you can best determine where to spend your efforts.
  2. Next determine where you will find the people you want to network with. Look for professional organizations, Chamber of Commerce, community groups, trade shows and educational events which would be of interest to your ideal networking contacts. Research these opportunities to understand the attendance levels and typical attendee. Determine the cost to attend the event including any membership dues.
  3. Set a goal for the number of contacts you will meet during the event. By spending 5 to 7 minutes with each contact, you could plan to meet ten people in an hour. By the end of the event you will have a sample of the attendees. You can now determine if attending this event brought you closer to achieving your networking goals.

By creating a plan for your networking activities you will have a better chance to achieve your career and networking goals. Taking the time to plan your next networking activity may take more effort before the event though your networking results will be more rewarding.

How Can You Land a Job 15 to 46 Percent Faster?

Do you wonder how some people gain direction, focus and momentum in their job search? How do they stay so motivated? What are they doing differently than you are? According to the Wall Street Journal, those who use a career coach find their next job 15%-46% faster than those who do not. Here are five benefits you can receive by hiring a career coach.
How much transparency is too much?
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1. Perspective: At times we can get so wrapped up in our day to day activities that we lose perspective. A coach will offer an outside opinion of how the world perceives you.

2. Assessment: Part of a coach’s job is to keep current on industries and trends. They can advise you on how your current skills align with today’s job market. They will help you learn more about yourself and your passion.

3. Goal Setting: You will define both tactical and strategic goals with your coach as well as a road map to achieve these. Together you will discuss your desired career path and lay out the plans to get you to your destination.

4. Motivation: Your coach is there to motivate you and inspire you to be your best. If you are not making progress, your coach will challenge you to be more effective. You’ll get a pat on the back when you deserve it.

5. Accountability: When you meet with your coach, you will review the progress you have made towards achieving your goals. The coach will ask you about road blocks you put in your own path and work with you to remove them or detour around them.

Henry Ford Knows You Are Right

If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.
Henry Ford, (attributed)
US automobile industrialist (1863 – 1947)        Source: quotations page

Henry Ford was right. Founder of Ford Motor Company, the Model T and the assembly line, he changed the way Americans and the world did business. Above is one of my favorite quotes from Henry Ford.

As we begin learning new skills, it can feel like an uphill battle.

  • Sweat dripping off our brow.
  • Knees knocking.
  • Butterflies in our stomach.
  • Heart racing.

First time experiences may set the nervous energy flowing. Direct the adrenaline rush towards a positive channel to benefit from your experience. It is easy to get wrapped up in the fears.

Take control of your destiny and focus your efforts on the results. A few deep breathes can do wonders to relax the mind. Take a moment to refocus your energy.

A Picture is Worth 1K Words

The classic saying says “a picture is worth a 1000 words”. Your online brand includes your picture, avatar or graphic representation. What does your profile picture say about you?

When you post on a blog or website, your picture helps to enforce your message. Do you want to project a professional image? Choose an avatar that complements your message in a professional manner.

You can create your own unique Gravatar image to follow you around from website to website appearing beside your name when you write a comment or post on a blog. Avatars help identify your posts on blogs and web forums, so why not on any site?

Gravatar pluggins are available for WordPress blogs and other websites. You can learn more at the Gravatar website.

You can select different avatars to appear for each email address. Just log into Gravatar and set up your free account. Add each email address you use and confirm by clicking on the email you receive in that account. Log into Gravatar to upload your pictures and images. Select the image you choose for each email account you registered.

Post a comment here and let us see your Gravatar.

Myself
Creative Commons License photo credit: erikpaterson

Portfolio Careers is the New Jobs

CNN reports the traditional job and career path is going away. More and more employers will hire contract workers to fill new openings. Get ready for change.

What does this mean for employees? No paid health care, vacations or pensions.

What does this mean for employers? Ability to staff to meet demands, reduced cost of labor, organizational and management style changes.

You're So Vane
Creative Commons License photo credit: dcbprime

Let me introduce you to portfolio careers. I heard this term several years ago from my friend Chris King. By portfolio, I refer to a collection of paid and unpaid activities which, as a group, make up your career.

Chris’ portfolio career includes storyteller, human development specialist, artist, storyteller, trainer, consultant, web site designer and developer, TV announcer, model, mathematician, marketing manager, newspaper editor, salesperson, waitress, writer, speaker and mother of five.

My own portfolio career includes personal development coaching, adult education, marketing plan development, professional speaker, career blogging, travel blogging and author.

How is your career portfolio evolving?

Want the Facts on Unemployment and Labor Statistics?

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The collect, process, analyze and report the data on their website.

Budget Forum
Creative Commons License photo credit: JSmith Photo
Information you can find on unemployment figures includes:

  • National Unemployment Rate (from the Current Population Survey: A monthly household survey provides comprehensive information on the employment and unemployment of the population classified by age, sex, race, and other characteristics.
  • State and Local Unemployment Rates: Monthly estimates of employment and unemployment are available for all States, metropolitan areas, small labor market areas, counties, cities of 25,000 or more, all cities and towns in New England, and certain other areas.
  • International Unemployment Rates: Monthly estimates of unemployment rates for 10 countries, approximating U.S. concepts, are available on a seasonally adjusted basis.
  • Mass Layoff Statistics: BLS publishes monthly reports on all mass layoffs and quarterly reports on layoffs lasting more than 30 days. These reports identify, describe, and track the effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each State’s unemployment insurance database supplemented with employer-provided data.
  • Unemployment Research: The Employment Research staff initiates, plans, and directs activities for improving the quality and enhancing the analytical usefulness of BLS employment and unemployment statistics.

Have questions? The Bureau has answers.

Benefits of Volunteering

Talking to clients this week, I heard a common thread. They told me volunteering is the best form of in person networking. Two organization were recommended as the best places for business people to volunteer. These groups are Toastmasters International and the local Chamber of Commerce.

Toastmasters International with local chapters around the globe is a place where you can build your public speaking skills while you network with and get to know those in your neighborhood. I was at an event last night where 1 out of 3 of the attendees were Toastmasters. Leadership positions and mentoring positions are open at the chapter, district, regional and global level.

Simon Phipps
Creative Commons License photo credit: LornaJane.net

Many cities and villages have a Chamber of Commerce to support their business owners. By stepping up to a leadership position, you have an opportunity to get to know your fellow members.

In both these groups, you have an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills and build your network. Check out your local group to learn more.

Making the Most of Your Mentoring Relationship Report

Mentoring is a two way relationship which can be a gift to both parties.

Merriam Webster says the root of the word mentor comes from the Greek Mentor, a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus’ son Telemachus. In our business world, we refer to the dictionary’s second definition: a mentor is a trusted counselor, guide, tutor, coach.

Over my career I have been a mentor and mentee. Sometimes, both roles at the same time. Sometimes mentors were much like me and other times they had a different approach to business. Each type had its benefits.

Making the Most of Your Mentoring Relationship report from CyberLife Tutors

I currently mentor several people on different aspects of their career. We set goals for our relationship and work though these items at an agreed upon pace. Ready to find out more about mentoring? Check out our special report Making the Most of Your Mentoring Relationship Report.

Interview Tips to Land Your Next Job

Just in time for your next interview is our report interview tips to land your next job.

You probably have heard this one before. Preparation is the key to successful interviewing. You only have one chance to make a good first impression. Hiring managers and recruiters often receive hundreds of applications for a single job opening. If you can not answer the question “Why should I hire you?” confidently and convincingly, you do not have a chance. Are you ready with your answer to this question?

Our Interview Tips special report helps you through four of the trickiest questions and how to practice for your interview.

Interviewing Tips to Land Your Next Job from CyberLife Tutors

Get the tools you need to be confident at your next job interview. Invest in yourself. Blowing an interview will cost you maybe thousands of dollars. Get ready to shine when you meet your potential new boss.

Learning Japanese to Sharpen the Saw

Steven Covey‘s 7th habit in his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“,  is “Sharpen the Saw“. For Covey, this means growth and self renewal in physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual areas of your life. By challenging ourselves, we stretch our mental capacity to keep on top of our game.

My husband and I enjoy traveling and learning about local people, customs and cultures of the places we visit. In Hawaii, we often encounter Japanese tourists and residents who speak limited English. We decided to learn to speak Japanese to better communicate when we are on island. My husband devotes more time to this studying and further ahead in this journey. He is able to converse to understand and get his point across in Japanese.

Sharpening the saw in your business is also important. Staying current with evolving trends and  technology allows you to better communicate with your customers. What are you doing to sharpen your saw?